Pastor YouPing Liu

Dr. Wenliang Li, who was one of the coronavirus whistleblowers, passed away on February 7, 2020. His death shocked everyone nationwide, as well as globally.  Dr. Li, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist working at Wuhan Central Hospital, was arrested on January 1 by local Chinese officials on a charge of  “spreading rumors.” Two days before his arrest, he had posted on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, giving a warning to his colleagues, saying that the harm of the new coronavirus was similar to SARS. The Chinese national media reported that his arrest, along with the other 7 doctors, was to make sure that no one in the medical arena continued to spread rumors, lest fear proliferated before the lunar New Year.

Dr. Li was diagnosed with the coronavirus on January 10 and was admitted to the hospital 2 days after. On January 28, the local government could not help but admit their mistake and tried to defend these doctors. Unfortunately, Dr. Li passed away at a young age. What comforted me was that it was said that Dr. Li was a Christian believer. He was boldly speaking the truth under great pressure because of his Christian conscience and professionalism. Though Dr. Li left this earth, we believe that he now is forever with the Lord Jesus. Up until February 10, 40,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus, nearly 900 have died, and most of them were not Christians yet. Where are these souls now?

Ephesians 2:4-7 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Despite the rapid pace of change of this world, only those who put their trust in Jesus will be blessed! Our souls were dead in transgressions, separated from God. However, by God’s grace and mercy, Jesus Christ paid the ransom for us and our sins are forgiven when we believe in Jesus. Also, God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. We will receive His abundant grace.

Reflections:

1. How do we, as Christians, face these sudden calamities and plagues? What do we hope for?

2. So many lives have been lost in the coronavirus outbreak and most of them were not Christians…who is responsible for their lives?